Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)

Remember I am studying Patrick Holford's book New Optimum Nutrition for the Mind and that is where all my blogging is coming from on this topic right now.

SWINGING from low lows to high highs!

These swings can be generated by a huge number of factors - such as too much coffee, stress, hormone imbalances, food allergies and nutritional deficiencies.

How effective are SSRI's really?
There is an INCREASED RISK of suicide on SSRI’s (pg 263)

“No randomized
controlled trials show that patients with bipolar disorders who receive drugs
do better in the long term than those who receive no medicine… against this
background, let’s take a look at the nutritional approaches…” (pg 263)

3 ways for a person with bipolar to minimize the
risk of disruptive moods.

1. Take the nutrients that help to stabilize mood – helping
mood swings in either direction

2. Take nutrients and herbs that help reduce anxiety and
promote relaxation.

3. Take nutrients that promote healthy sleep patterns.

Blood Sugar Imbalances or Food Allergies

Remember the brain is almost totally dependent on glucose
for its supply of energy so keeping a stable level of glucose is crucial for
improved mental health. Avoid sugar,
stimulants, cigarettes and excess stress.

Omega 3 fats –definitely fish oil. Eat cold water fish – herring, fresh tuna (in moderation),
salmon, sardines and mackerel. And to turn these essential fats into building
materials for the brain what do you remember what you need? B vitamins! Are you with me? Did you guess that from all the other entries
I’ve done? More info about Fats and B’s
is found here: http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1644(please note that
fish-liver oil supplements are UNSUITABLE for treating mood disorders because
in order to take enough of them, you will get too much vitamin A – possibly
leading to toxicity) They have yet to determine how much is optimum but generally 1.5-4 g of EPA is adequate to improve mood in patients with Bipolar. Be sure to check the EPA not just the mg of oil.

Vegetarians can try to substitute flax seed oil, as long as
they take optimum amounts of magnewium, zinc, B’s, C and biotin – all needed to
convert flaxseed oil into EPA and DHA – Fish oil is ideal as it is very
difficult for most to make enough EPA from flax seed or another alpha-linolenic
acid.

Magnesium
Most of us are deficient in magnesium. Average diet gives around 200 mg while the RDA
(recommended daily amount) is 300 mg. (500 is the ODA – optimum daily amount) Depression, insomnia, constipation and
nervousness are all from a long list of magnesium deficiency symptoms.

Chronic stress depletes magnesium

A study in the US of patients with major depression
found that they recovered rapidly, in less than a week, by taking magnesium at
each meal and at bedtime. (pg 246)

Food has far less magnesium than it did 100 years ago –
because of refined foods but also due to chemical fertilizers – many nutrients
are missing from our food supply – not just magnesium.

Green leafy vegetables are rich in magnesium because of the
chlorophyll – raw nuts and seeds are a great source too. With one tbsp of seeds, at least three
servings of dark green veggies and 100 -300 mg of magnesium daily, you will
ensure you are getting enough magnesium. (Do not supplement more than 300 mg
total)

Broad-spectrum Multi

Best place to start is by supplementing a multivitamin and
mineral. Nutrients are synergistic –
they need each other to be absorbed and to work well in the body. One study
recently done in Canada – University of Calgary – demonstrates how effective
this is with manic depression. A group
of manic depressive adults were given vitamins and trace minerals in addition
to their prescribed meds. Over six
months, on average – they halved their need for the medications and every
patient experienced between a 55 to 66 % reduction of symptoms.

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Mom of five alive

That's me in a nutshell. I have five incredibly alive children whom I love dearly, a husband who has bravely joined me in the task of raising them under God's will and direction, and a computer where I am beginning to write my thoughts of late. So welcome, posts will come slowly at first and may increase as the time goes on...